Seattle History: Kingdome demolition

May 30, 2011 7:42 PM

The first in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion, March 26, 2000 (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file)

The first in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion, March 26, 2000 (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file)

Photo: P-I File

The first in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion,... Photo-805377.15216 - seattlepi.com

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The second in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion, March 26, 2000 (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file)

The second in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion, March 26, 2000 (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file)

Photo: P-I File

The second in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion,... Photo-805381.15216 - seattlepi.com

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The third in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion, March 26, 2000 (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file)

The third in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion, March 26, 2000 (Phil H. Webber/Seattlepi.com file)

Photo: P-I File

The third in a series of four photos of the Kingdome implosion,... Photo-805385.15216 - seattlepi.com

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Fourth of four photos of the Kingdome implosion.

Fourth of four photos of the Kingdome implosion.

Photo: Phil H. Webber, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Fourth of four photos of the Kingdome implosion. Photo-650617.15216 - seattlepi.com

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Spectators began lining up before dawn at numerous vantage points around the city. Here, onlookers took a last glance at the Kingdome before surrounding streets were closed to the public.

Spectators began lining up before dawn at numerous vantage points around the city. Here, onlookers took a last glance at the Kingdome before surrounding streets were closed to the public.

Photo: Mike Urban, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Spectators began lining up before dawn at numerous vantage points... Photo-662815.15216 - seattlepi.com

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A major challenge in demolishing the Kingdome is that the 25-year-old stadium was designed to stand for centuries. Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition Inc., points out the reinforcing rods used in Kingdome columns. He said he has only seen rebar that thick in nuclear power plants. less

A major challenge in demolishing the Kingdome is that the 25-year-old stadium was designed to stand for centuries. Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition Inc., points out the reinforcing rods used ... more

Photo: Jeff Larsen, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A major challenge in demolishing the Kingdome is that the... Photo-693453.15216 - seattlepi.com

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With its walls partially torn away, interior lights turn the Kingdome into a glowing beacon after dark.

With its walls partially torn away, interior lights turn the Kingdome into a glowing beacon after dark.

Rick Riggs, operations manager for Aman Environmental Construction of Covina, Calif., talks on his cell phone amidst the remains of the Dome. His company is responsible for tearing down the bulk of the Kingdome. less

Rick Riggs, operations manager for Aman Environmental Construction of Covina, Calif., talks on his cell phone amidst the remains of the Dome. His company is responsible for tearing down the bulk of the ... more

This is a sample of dust from the Kingdome implosion, magnified 360 times. The P-I collected it off of the rear window of a Seattle police car parked under the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Robert Fisher, chief scientist for Lab/Cor, analyzed the dust under an electron microscope. His preliminary findings were that the dust contained bits of wood, concrete, sand or silica, and some fiberglass. "It's pretty much what you always get when you blow up a building," he said. Fisher and his colleagues set up air monitors a block from the Dome, but say they don't expect to find anything hazardous in the dust. less

This is a sample of dust from the Kingdome implosion, magnified 360 times. The P-I collected it off of the rear window of a Seattle police car parked under the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Robert Fisher, chief ... more

Photo: Courtesy Of Lab/Cor

This is a sample of dust from the Kingdome implosion, magnified 360... Photo-662869.15216 - seattlepi.com

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Not everything was leveled by the blast. The flagpole from the top of the Kingdome remained standing amid the rubble. You can see it toward the top of this photo, leaning to the right.

Not everything was leveled by the blast. The flagpole from the top of the Kingdome remained standing amid the rubble. You can see it toward the top of this photo, leaning to the right.

Photo: Grant M. Haller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Not everything was leveled by the blast. The flagpole from the top... Photo-699423.15216 - seattlepi.com

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Mariner fans get photos with remains of the Kingdome.

Mariner fans get photos with remains of the Kingdome.

Photo: Mike Urban, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Mariner fans get photos with remains of the Kingdome. Photo-700812.15216 - seattlepi.com

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The Kingdome disappears into a cloud of dust, as seen from Victor Steinbrueck Park at the Pike Place Market.

The Kingdome disappears into a cloud of dust, as seen from Victor Steinbrueck Park at the Pike Place Market.

Photo: James Johnson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Kingdome disappears into a cloud of dust, as seen from Victor... Photo-662838.15216 - seattlepi.com

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A huge cloud of dust moves toward downtown after the Kingdome's implosion. Afterward, work crews toiled for hours to clean up the debris.

A huge cloud of dust moves toward downtown after the Kingdome's implosion. Afterward, work crews toiled for hours to clean up the debris.

Past and present are side by side: The 25-year-old Kingdome begins to collapse alongside the 9-month-old Safeco Field.

Past and present are side by side: The 25-year-old Kingdome begins to collapse alongside the 9-month-old Safeco Field.

Photo: Don Marquis, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Past and present are side by side: The 25-year-old Kingdome begins... Photo-662834.15216 - seattlepi.com

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Smith Tower peaks out from the dust after the 2001 implosion of the Kingdome.

Smith Tower peaks out from the dust after the 2001 implosion of the Kingdome.

Photo: P-I File

Smith Tower peaks out from the dust after the 2001 implosion of the... Photo-766953.15216 - seattlepi.com

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Kingdome implosion, 2000: The Kingdome opened March 27, 1976 and immediately became the Northwest's premier sports venue. More than 58,000 fans watched the Seattle Sounders and New York Cosmos play in the arena's first pro game April 9, 1976, wheen soccer legend Pele scored two goals in the Cosmos' 3-1 victory. In October, 1986, Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks broke a National Football League record with a reception that gave him at least one catch in 128 consecutive games. The Kingdome became dust March 26, 2000. Two new stadiums continue the story of professional sports in Seattle. less

Kingdome implosion, 2000: The Kingdome opened March 27, 1976 and immediately became the Northwest's premier sports venue. More than 58,000 fans watched the Seattle Sounders and New York Cosmos play in the ... more

Amy Allred and Julie Moenkhaus scrape Kingdome blast dust from a windshield. The pair, who watched the implosion from the 64th floor of the Bank of America Tower, plan to make souvenir snowglobes from the dust they gather. less

Amy Allred and Julie Moenkhaus scrape Kingdome blast dust from a windshield. The pair, who watched the implosion from the 64th floor of the Bank of America Tower, plan to make souvenir snowglobes from the dust ... more